2013 Madagascar locust plague
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In 2012, Madagascar had an upsurge in the size of its Malagasy migratory locust (Locusta migratoria capito) populations. In November of that year, the government issued a locust alert, saying that conditions were right for swarming of the pest insects.[1][2][3] In February 2013, Cyclone Haruna struck the country, creating optimal conditions for locust breeding.[4] By late March 2013, approximately 50% of the country was infested by swarms of locusts, with each swarm consisting of more than one billion insects. The authorities changed the situation to plague status.[1] According to one eyewitness: "You don't see anything except locusts. You turn around, there are locusts everywhere".[5]
This article needs to be updated. (November 2017) |
Date | March 2013 (2013-03) |
---|---|
Location | Madagascar |
Cause | Malagasy migratory locust (Locusta migratoria capito) |
News of the infestation went global the week before Passover, inspiring comparisons with the Biblical Plagues of Egypt, one of which was a swarm of locusts.[2][6] It was the worst locust outbreak in Madagascar since a 17-year-long outbreak which began during the 1950s.[4]